Flood control, recreation projects good for Madison Co.

We are excited about the flood control and recreation projects detailed in a report in Sunday’s edition of The Jackson Sun.

Madison County has been awarded $24.5 million in grants for the projects through the National Disaster Resilience Competition from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

We are particularly encouraged by the creativity at the core of the project plans, which merge flood protection with the creation of new recreational opportunities.

One of the projects will be in North Madison County, east of U.S. 45 along the Middle Forked Deer River, which is prone to flooding in that area. The land there is marked with deep agricultural ditches and levees, which cause fast-flowing water when the river floods, damaging property and crops.

The project will destroy or lower the ditches and levees to create a wetland and spread flood waters over a larger area, while slowing down the water flow.

The project is called the Middle Forked Deer Stream and Floodplain Restoration Project and will cover between 400 and 1,200 acres.

Up to five miles of biking and walking trails will be installed in the newly created wetland. Boardwalks, wildlife viewing areas, educational kiosks, canoe access points and fishing piers will be constructed as part of the project.

Another project will create a walking in biking trail from downtown Jackson to Bemis along an old railroad line that crosses the South Forked Deer River.

Other money will specifically address flooding issues, with a focus on Bemis and South Jackson. Still more grant money will be used to fortify water and sewer lines against damage from flood waters.

These projects will improve the safety of our community while also increasing the quality of life.

More and more, young professionals look at recreational opportunities such as hiking and biking trails when they evaluate a community. These projects will help us keep good people in our community and attract others to move here.

We congratulate those responsible for bringing these projects and grant money to our community. We look forward to seeing the finish products, which are expected in 2018 and 2019.

TENNCARE MISERY METER

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey’s, House Speaker Beth Harwell’s and the Tennessee General Assembly’s lack of leadership and urgency and failure to expand TennCare under the Affordable Care Act are bringing misery to an estimated 280,000 Tennesseans who could have received health insurance, including an estimated 30,000 veterans. Meanwhile, the financial stability of hospitals is at risk, and workers could lose their jobs. It is costing Tennesseans an estimated $2.5 million per day. The loss to date is: